Wireless router from the US

MC Mayank · 15th September 2007, 18:42

Gentlemen, at the outset let me state that I don't know much about telecom. So kindly adjust.

Basic equation is that I want a wireless router at my place. I have an Airtel 2 mbps connection with a beetel 220BX1 (ADSL2 + modem is what it says on the modem) which the airtel blokes gave me.

Question is whether I can get a router from the US that would work here. If yes, then could someone pls advice on the:
1. Brand
2. Config
3. Online shops wth good deals

Thanks...

kpbhatt · 15th September 2007, 18:56

i have a netgear54mbps internal wireless router which i got from US 2 years back -- did not use it as yet since the broadband speeds here were pathetic. However I did install it last year to check whether it worked with my Tata Indicom(sic) connection

ajmat · 15th September 2007, 19:02

I use a linksys. No need to go to the US.

Pick a router up. Call airtel and they will configure in minutes

itwasntme · 15th September 2007, 19:06

Hi MC Mayank,

IMHO, buy it from Bangalore from someone like Computer Warehouse Online - Product Catalogue located at the Barton Centre on MG Road. I bought the Netgear router for Rs. 2,050 and it has been working fine for 6 months now. It supposedly has a 1 year warranty too. Setup was a doddle DIY. Believe Airtel will setup but charges some amount. By the way, they themselves offer wireless so if you want a totally hassle-free experience, upgrade to the wireless package and let them supply the router.

If you buy from the US, you'll have the usual problem with the voltage and also the lack of free warranty/support etc.

Thanks,

dadu · 15th September 2007, 19:17

I agree, this is what you need to check and decide. US voltage is 110 here its 240, plus I dont think you'll be able to avail that warranty here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by itwasntme

If you buy from the US, you'll have the usual problem with the voltage and also the lack of free warranty/support etc.

Thanks,

MC Mayank · 15th September 2007, 19:20

I was seeing if I could have a solution in like 1500/- or something

.. VId just sent me a link for netgear on amazon for $40..but your comments on voltage and warranty support makes me rethink

SumitB · 15th September 2007, 19:24

My 2 cents:

Get a Buffalo WHR-54GS or the HP one. The 54GS is available for 2200/- in most towns. This is currently being tested by me and the stock router covers 3 RCC floors when placed well. With the open source firmware, I suppose I could WiFi a large complex :-)

Don't go to the US for such small things. Get your money well invested in a iPhone if anything

MC Mayank · 15th September 2007, 19:28

No no.. one of my office fellows is returning in a couple of weeks so was exploring if I could get it for dirt cheap there or something

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumitB

My 2 cents:

Get a Buffalo WHR-54GS or the HP one. The 54GS is available for 2200/- in most towns. This is currently being tested by me and the stock router covers 3 RCC floors when placed well. With the open source firmware, I suppose I could WiFi a large complex :-)

Don't go to the US for such small things. Get your money well invested in a iPhone if anything

SumitB · 15th September 2007, 19:30

dirt cheap is okay but what will you do if something goes kaput? getting it from here atleast leaves you with the option of availing the warranty!

Absar · 15th September 2007, 19:37

I use NetGear DG834G! Been about 6 months since I got it.. Working fine with Airtel! I got it for around 4000, ±500.

The Airtel WLan Router was so dumb plus they were charging 8k ±500 for it. NetGear was a better solution for me.

Cheaper NetGear wireless routers are available, but this is the only wireless + ADSL router I could get here. Normal wireless router doesn't work.

cya
A

kumar2007 · 15th September 2007, 20:12

Have been using D-link in my home and office since about 3 years. At that time I got it from US as it was 4K there and 13K here. Now the difference is not worth it.

Why not consider a BSNL connection with their wireless router. Its about 1.8K.

rr_zen · 15th September 2007, 21:26

I am using a Netgear for the last 18 months here in the US and propose to bring it with me back home to India when I return next year. I have a couple of my friends who have routers from the US which are working perfectly fine. As regards the voltage, you can do good by using a converter in India. That is what I propose to do too.

theMAG · 15th September 2007, 21:56

Mayank,

If its basic wireless connectivity, get the standard D-Link wireless router thats available for abt Rs 3000

If you plan to use the wireless for heavyduty data transfer between 2 or more laptops, get a Linksys 802.11N router. But remember that even your laptop should support 802.11N, else the router will work in backward compatibility mode of 802.11G which has a max theoretical thruput of 54 Mbps.

bill1182 · 15th September 2007, 22:51

If the power voltage of the router supports 240 it will work anywhere in the world. I am using Linksys and Netgear since past 3 years and it is working perfectly fine.

There is no special config in your router based on the geographic location from where you purchase it. All you will lose on is the warranty as US stuff might not get manufacturers warranty in India. But they hardly have any problem.

Don't worry, pick it up. You will get is dirt cheap there.

deep_bang · 16th September 2007, 08:17

I think the cheapest option is to get it from the service provider. I had a ADSL from BSNL and when my friend got his connection, i asked him to get a wireless ADSL for 1.8k. I swapped mine with him wireless since he uses a desktop. This is a great modem as it has a wireless router + ADSL modem all in one package. I have a desktop connected to the LAN port and the laptop to the Wireless port - works great even for data transfers between my laptop and desktop.

15th September 2007, 18:42	#1
MC Mayank BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 108 Thanked: 3 Times	Wireless router from the US Gentlemen, at the outset let me state that I don't know much about telecom. So kindly adjust. Basic equation is that I want a wireless router at my place. I have an Airtel 2 mbps connection with a beetel 220BX1 (ADSL2 + modem is what it says on the modem) which the airtel blokes gave me. Question is whether I can get a router from the US that would work here. If yes, then could someone pls advice on the: 1. Brand 2. Config 3. Online shops wth good deals Thanks...
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 18:56	#2
kpbhatt BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 349 Thanked: 33 Times View My Garage	i have a netgear54mbps internal wireless router which i got from US 2 years back -- did not use it as yet since the broadband speeds here were pathetic. However I did install it last year to check whether it worked with my Tata Indicom(sic) connection
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 19:02	#3
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,858 Thanked: 27,925 Times View My Garage	I use a linksys. No need to go to the US. Pick a router up. Call airtel and they will configure in minutes
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 19:06	#4
itwasntme Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 6,973 Thanked: 12,523 Times View My Garage	Hi MC Mayank, IMHO, buy it from Bangalore from someone like Computer Warehouse Online - Product Catalogue located at the Barton Centre on MG Road. I bought the Netgear router for Rs. 2,050 and it has been working fine for 6 months now. It supposedly has a 1 year warranty too. Setup was a doddle DIY. Believe Airtel will setup but charges some amount. By the way, they themselves offer wireless so if you want a totally hassle-free experience, upgrade to the wireless package and let them supply the router. If you buy from the US, you'll have the usual problem with the voltage and also the lack of free warranty/support etc. Thanks, Last edited by itwasntme : 15th September 2007 at 19:10. Reason: Typo
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 19:20	#6
MC Mayank BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 108 Thanked: 3 Times	I was seeing if I could have a solution in like 1500/- or something .. VId just sent me a link for netgear on amazon for $40..but your comments on voltage and warranty support makes me rethink
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 19:24	#7
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 986 Thanked: 263 Times	My 2 cents: Get a Buffalo WHR-54GS or the HP one. The 54GS is available for 2200/- in most towns. This is currently being tested by me and the stock router covers 3 RCC floors when placed well. With the open source firmware, I suppose I could WiFi a large complex :-) Don't go to the US for such small things. Get your money well invested in a iPhone if anything
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 19:30	#9
SumitB BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Shillong Posts: 986 Thanked: 263 Times	dirt cheap is okay but what will you do if something goes kaput? getting it from here atleast leaves you with the option of availing the warranty!
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 19:37	#10
Absar BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Madras Posts: 560 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	I use NetGear DG834G! Been about 6 months since I got it.. Working fine with Airtel! I got it for around 4000, ±500. The Airtel WLan Router was so dumb plus they were charging 8k ±500 for it. NetGear was a better solution for me. Cheaper NetGear wireless routers are available, but this is the only wireless + ADSL router I could get here. Normal wireless router doesn't work. cya A
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 20:12	#11
kumar2007 BANNED Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 213 Thanked: 34 Times	Have been using D-link in my home and office since about 3 years. At that time I got it from US as it was 4K there and 13K here. Now the difference is not worth it. Why not consider a BSNL connection with their wireless router. Its about 1.8K.
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 21:26	#12
rr_zen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 1,799 Thanked: 400 Times View My Garage	I am using a Netgear for the last 18 months here in the US and propose to bring it with me back home to India when I return next year. I have a couple of my friends who have routers from the US which are working perfectly fine. As regards the voltage, you can do good by using a converter in India. That is what I propose to do too.
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 21:56	#13
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Mayank, If its basic wireless connectivity, get the standard D-Link wireless router thats available for abt Rs 3000 If you plan to use the wireless for heavyduty data transfer between 2 or more laptops, get a Linksys 802.11N router. But remember that even your laptop should support 802.11N, else the router will work in backward compatibility mode of 802.11G which has a max theoretical thruput of 54 Mbps.
	() Thanks

15th September 2007, 22:51	#14
bill1182 BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 165 Thanked: 312 Times	If the power voltage of the router supports 240 it will work anywhere in the world. I am using Linksys and Netgear since past 3 years and it is working perfectly fine. There is no special config in your router based on the geographic location from where you purchase it. All you will lose on is the warranty as US stuff might not get manufacturers warranty in India. But they hardly have any problem. Don't worry, pick it up. You will get is dirt cheap there.
	() Thanks

16th September 2007, 08:17	#15
deep_bang BHPian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bangalore / Boise Posts: 888 Thanked: 1,268 Times	I think the cheapest option is to get it from the service provider. I had a ADSL from BSNL and when my friend got his connection, i asked him to get a wireless ADSL for 1.8k. I swapped mine with him wireless since he uses a desktop. This is a great modem as it has a wireless router + ADSL modem all in one package. I have a desktop connected to the LAN port and the laptop to the Wireless port - works great even for data transfers between my laptop and desktop.
	() Thanks